Steps to become an RVT
How to become a RVT
RVT Admission Standards
The OAVT membership year runs June 1 to May 31. If you have graduated or will be graduating from an OAVT accredited program and plan to register for the Jul/Aug VTNE window, please submit your pending membership application in May or early June.
The by-law states that once you begin the registration process by becoming a “Pending” member – you have two renewal cycles to complete the steps of registration. By waiting until June 1 for your membership, you will have two full renewal periods to complete the registration process.
If you are currently in your final year of school and would like to register for a P&E workshop, you must be either a Student Member of the OAVT or a Pending Member. Please submit a membership application.
A person must obtain the following qualifications and fulfill the conditions in order to use the designation ‘Registered Veterinary Technician’ or the initials ‘RVT’.
Graduate from an OAVT accredited college program.
These colleges have gone through the OAVT College Accreditation Process and evaluation (provisional accreditation means that accreditation is temporary until all conditions of full accreditation have been met by the college).
For a list of OAVT accredited college programs, click here.
Become a Member of the OAVT
Visit our Membership Benefits & Pricing page for more information. To apply for membership click here.
Please note: The OAVT membership year runs from June 1 to May 31. If you submit your application prior to May 1, you will be required to renew again on June 1. Please wait to submit your membership application in May.
Graduated from a Distance Education Program Not Accredited by the OAVT?
If you graduated from a distance education program outside of Ontario you will need to:
- Contact the local veterinary technician regulator where your school is located to inquire what their requirements are for access to the VTNE
- If you complete all required steps with the local jurisdiction, you are eligible to “transfer” to the OAVT. A letter of good standing is required from the local jurisdiction to the OAVT.
Note: If you only passed the VTNE, a letter of good standing is not needed. - Become a Pending Member of the OAVT. Submit your clear criminal record check with your application.
- Take the Professionalism & Ethics Workshop (P&E Workshop)
- Email a copy of your diploma and your official VTNE results to oavt@oavt.org
Internationally Trained?
If you completed a veterinary technology program outside Canada, you must obtain an assessment of your program from the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS). For more information on this process read our Internationally Trained page
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How do I become an RVT
Whether you are an Ontario student or internationally trained graduate, learn about the five steps it takes to become a Registered Veterinary Technician.
Job Board
Search through Ontario’s #1 source for animal healthcare jobs. New jobs are posted daily.
RVT Registry
The official Registry of Ontario’s Registered Veterinary Technicians. All RVTs in good standing can be found in this searchable Registry.